Gilchrist's round herring (Gilchristella aestuaria) fish species and information / pictures of Gilchrist's round herring - Gilchristella aestuaria

Gilchrist's round herring (Gilchristella aestuaria) fish species information

Scientific Name
Gilchristella aestuaria

Common Name
Gilchrist's round herring

Biology
Occurs primarily in estuaries and lagoons, but also found in lakes and rivers. Entire life cycle is completed in the estuary (Ref. 32693). Can tolerate salinities under 4 ppt and of up to 52.6 ppt (Ref. 32693). Breeds throughout the year with a peak in spring and early summer. Maturity may be attained within the first or second year and an age of up to 5 or 6 years is recorded. Feeds chiefly on zooplankton by filtering or selecting individual organisms from the water column (Ref. 7248). Utilized fresh or dried and salted (Ref. 12484).

Classification

Classified By

Gilchrist, 1913

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Herrings (Clupeiformes)

Family

Herrings, shads and sardines (Clupeidae)

Distribution

Region

Africa

Distribution

Africa: Lake Piti, Mozambique along southern African coast to Saldanha Bay, possibly mouth of Orange River (but perhaps confused by presence of a second undescribed species). Reported occurrence in India (Ref. 32693) needs validation (Ref. 33664). Reports of the occurrence in Madagascan waters (Ref. 13333) are in error (Ref. 33664).

Range

25°S - 36°S, 17°E - 34°E

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

pelagic-neritic

Environment

Marine; freshwater; brackish; pelagic-neritic; amphidromous

Trophic Level

3.33 s.e. 0.49 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

10.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 1.0000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: subsistence fisheries; bait: usually

Vulnerability

Low vulnerability (13 of 100)

Resilience

High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (tm=0.5)

Threat To Humans

  Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

  Least Concern (LC)